Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-09-15

ners, going as near the burning building as
we dared, but no trace could we find of the
missing woman. The crowd had somewhat
cleared from the front; there was quiet
settling down on those who had escaped,
the dumb anguish OF grief to the most, for
few families had escaped entire, while the
shrieks from the burning building had all
been hushed when the great walls fell in.
Twas still searching among the crowd for
trace of Miss Armund, when a call from
Mr.. Dudley summoned me to him. 4 found
him bending over the still form Of the Door
old woman, whose white face hooked still
and set as If in death. Her clothing was
badly burned, but her injuries must have
been mainly due to her fall on the brick
pavement. raised her head and famed
her face, meanwhile rubbing the GOLD hands;
but no sign Of life returning, begged Mr.
Dudley TO get carriage, if possible and
have her taken to house. He did so, but
it was when attempting to help the driver
lift her in that observed his right arm was
helpless. ran TO help in his stead, inquir-
ing if he was hurt.
sit is my arm" he said, steadily, though
he was deadly pale. 81 fear it is broken"
/ could have knelt down at his feet in the
cold street and begged his forgiveness for
all the unkind things had ever said Of him,
buthe motioned me to enter the carriage,
and, after giving the driver orders TO drive
to Mrs. Leiberg's, did So We entered the
great house that had left q short hour be-
fore in such gaiety and splendor, in sorrow
and mourning Mr.. Iceberg had escaped
unhurt, but his wife had been severely in
jured by the crush, we found She was
lying on couch, pale and still, gasping
family, when we bore Miss. Armund into the
room.
The doctor who was attending Mrs. Lei
berg had the satisfaction of seeing her soon
appear little revived; but Miss Armund
remained unconscious for ten hours, despite
the combined efforts of Mrs Kent, the doc
tor and myself TO arouse her. But just at
dawn she revived. / bent over her, asking
softly if she was better. She looked up into
my eyes, strange gladness in hers, q sort
of dumb Joy that made my heart ache, but
she did not answer. The doctor gave her a
sleeping draught and then babe us all leave
the room except Mrs. Kent who would
watch with the sick woman ITent TO my
room and, after throwing Off my rich dress
and DOMINIC calico wrapper, went down
again TO inquire about Mr.. Dudley, who
found was being attended by the ysici ms,
who pronounced his arm Lrpken in two
places, and he was now lying in the west
parlor, looking strangely pale and i'll; yet
he smiled family and endeavored to mako
light of his injuries when inquired and ex-
pressed my regret at his misfortune
For the next few days little else was al.
tended to except the wants of the three in
valids at the Iceberg mansion. devoted
myself almost entirely to Miss Armnnd,
who seemed i'll at ease whenever Left her
sight. Her injuries were of very seslnus
character, and the doctor gave little hope Of
her recovery, even from the first, and at the
end Of three days he expressed his very
grave doubts as TO her Surviving twenty
four hours longer, and limited that if sha
had any business affairs TO settle she had
better attend to them at once. The doctor
was then closeted with her for some time,
at the end Of which he came out looking ex-
tremely grave and concerned. He motioned
me to his side. Miss Armund," he said,
ais much worse, but she seems in more an
guish of mind than body. She desires me
to telegraph at once for Mrs. Clayton, who,
she says, is friend of hers and she also
desires to see Oliver Dudley at once. l
will, " he continued, ''go at once to the tele-
graph Office and send the dispatch. Will
you, Miss Lynn, be so kind as to deliver her
message to Mr. Dudleyi"
81 will at once" answered, and the doc
tor hurried away. Then all at once it flashed
upon me that now most likely was to
be revealed the mystery that surrounded
me, for that Mrs Clayton and Miss Armund
possessed a secret that was of moro or less
value TO me i never doubted. But would
the dying woman reveal it'll or would she
die and the precious secret be buried with
heri / felt my brain whirl at the thought.
Surely fate would never be so cruel Miss
Armund had seemed 20 find my presence
agreeable in the last few days, though her
injuries had prevented her from conversing.
chung to the hope that she was my friend,
after all, and this helped to calm, somewhat
my; excited feelings. / delivered her mes
sage to Mr.. Dudley with tolerable COM
posture, and then rushed off TO my own
room to wait in strange, shivering suspense
the arrival of Lena Clayton. An hour
passed, two, three and then there was
summons from Miss Armund's room. / was
sent for. went in and was struck at once
by the change in her few hours had
wrought; her face was gray and drawn, her
eyes sunken, yet glittering with deadly
brightness. Evidently this world and its
were nearly over with her.
Invent in softly. Mrs Kent Mrs. Lei
berg and Oliver Dudley were in the room,
but they withdrew at once, leaving us alone
together. A strange, solemn hush brooded
over all at first; the bright fire cracked
and blazed ON the hearth, sending warm
glow over the richly-furnished room; the
s1ch damask curtains, drawn aide, re-
vealed the snowy world outside, where tho
keen winter winds whistled shrilly. A few
chattering snow-birds flew wildly about,
and now and then a passer-by walked
swiftly past. All within was warmth and
luxury; outside cold and bitter wind; but
to the pallid face on tho pillow snow and
sun were alike UNDECIDED. She had passed
the line where earthly elements cease to vex
Us.
sat down near the head of the bed and
took one of the cold hands in mine. She
smiled up in my face.
"You are kind to me, Dorcas, little
Dorcas that 1 wronged SO fearfully," she
murmured, dreamily. "Yet he was cruel"
she cried suddenly 'He knew how madly,
how fiercely 1 loved him; yet he did not
heed me. l was poor-so poor, and he was
rich; ali, me how rich and handsome was
Phillip Caledon, with that dark bonnie
beauty that wins women's hearts so
easily"
She paused. listened breathlessly OF
whom was she speaking. My heart beat |
hard and fast with expectation, but she was
silent. She seemed to have been talking |
more to herself than to me. But presently |
she started up suddenly.
II helped TO save her; surely that will be |
part atonement for my crime, yet Lena |
was as much 20 blame IS /, and hate heri |
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